Airbus UK Broughton have snapped up Ryan Fraughan from The New Saints on the eve of the new Welsh Premier League season.

Fraughan, 24, started his career at Tranmere and spent the second half of last season on loan at Gap Connah’s Quay after being deemed surplus to requirements at Park Hall.

"He wasn’t in the picture, I don’t know what’s gone on but we’re delighted to have him," said Wingmakers boss Andy Preece, who has allowed centre-back Jonny Spittle to rejoin Llandudno on a season-long loan.

"The lad just wants to play football and he’s chosen to come to us when he could have gone elsewhere for a lot more money.

"He’s got a lot of quality and he’ll bring a lot of calmness on the ball in the final third, and he works really hard as well. He can play on either flank or in the number 10 role, so he’ll bring a lot of versatility and balance to the squad as well as creativity."

Preece’s side wound-up their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 victory over Witton Albion’s development side on Saturday.

Tony Gray gave Airbus the lead when forced the ball home from close range through a ruck of players following a Matty McGinn corner. The lead was doubled three minutes before the break when Jordan Barrow set-up McGinn for a close range finish.

Gray added the third in the second-half after Wayne Riley stepped over Barrow’s cross to allow him to convert at the back post before Albion scored a consolation in stoppage time.

European qualification will be the aim for Wingmakers once again with Preece making a place in the top-six his prority.

Airbus have qualified for the Uefa Europa League for the past three years and having fallen at the first hurdle on each occasion, are more determined than ever to progress past the first qualifying round.

Preece, who starts the new season banned from the dug-out, said: "We always aim to make sure we get in the top six first and then hopefully qualify for Europe from there.

"It’s going to be incredibly tight again because if you look at every other team aiming for Europe – the likes of Bala, Aberystwyth, Connah’s Quay – they’ve all got backers or people who are prepared to put money in when it’s needed, whereas we haven’t."

Preece believes his sides can push champions TNS for the title if central defender and club captain Ian Kearney, sidelined since October with knee ligament damage, returns to action in the next couple of months.

"I think we can do if we get Kearns back the way he was, he’s the best defender in the league,” said Preece, whose side host Carmarthen Town on Saturday (2.30pm).

"Our problem will be the depth of the squad, but Kearns is getting there and without too many more injuries and a bit of luck we’ve got half a chance.”